Bingo Addiction Led to Jail Time for Former Accountant

An accountant from Peter O'Hare Accountants was recently sentenced to six months for the theft of customer checks to fund her bingo habits.

In total, Lisa Carville stole £50,000 and more than 50 checks from customers. The cash was meant to pay taxes and Carville had access to look up balances and took any overages.

She started out playing bingo online in 2006 and slowly her addiction grew. She sobbed in the courtroom after being sentenced to 18 months of which she must serve 6.

Carville was so distraught over her actions that she attempted suicide which held up police investigations while she remained in the hospital.

Judge Smyth was against a suspended sentence and said, "It is unlikely that a professional person who abuses a fiduciary relationship with employer and client in any significant way can avoid actual imprisonment, even in the face of the strongest personal mitigation.'